Onomastics In The Naming Of Gamelan  In The Yogyakarta Palace

Ilma Zulfa; Fajriani Fitri; Yona Tirta Sari

Authors

Ilma Zulfa Master of Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Fajriani Fitri Master of Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Yona Tirta Sari Master of Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Keywords:

onomastics, gamelan, Yogyakarta Palace

Abstract

Language is inseparable from its speakers, including its use in the naming of objects. The act of naming objects follows a particular system. This system is specifically discussed within a branch of sociolinguistics known as onomastics. Onomastics is the study of names, including personal names, objects, places, and regions (Suhartatik, 2023). The object of this research is the names of gamelan ensembles in the Yogyakarta Palace. The reason for this is that the gamelan in the Yogyakarta Palace are given distinctive names, similar to human names, thus becoming a hallmark of the palace tradition. Moreover, some gamelan in the Yogyakarta Palace are also bestowed with honorary titles such as kiai. This unique naming system is a highly interesting subject of study. Specifically, this research discusses onomastics as classified by Suhartatik (2023). The objectives of this research are: (1) to identify the linguistic units used in the names of gamelan in the Yogyakarta Palace; (2) to examine the meanings and prayers embodied in the naming of gamelan; and (3) to identify the social factors influencing the naming of gamelan in the Yogyakarta Palace. Data collection is divided into two sources: (1) primary data, obtained through interviews with a court servant (abdi dalem) of the Yogyakarta Palace, and (2) secondary data, obtained from relevant literature. The data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive method, following the three stages of Miles and Huberman (1992): (1) data reduction, to classify the linguistic forms of gamelan names in the Yogyakarta Palace; (2) data display, by analyzing the processes of formation and meanings of the names; and (3) conclusion drawing, to reveal the sociocultural reflections embedded in the naming of gamelan. The results of this study show that the linguistic units used in the names of gamelan in the Yogyakarta Palace are diverse. The distinctive naming system demonstrates that gamelan are treated in a manner similar to humans, as reflected in the use of proper names and even honorary titles such as kiai.

References

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications.

DENI, N. I., & TRI, M. J. K. (2024). Nama-nama produk makanan instan di Indonesia: Kajian onomastika. JURNAL ONOMA: PENDIDIKAN, BAHASA, DAN SASTRA Учредители: Universitas Cokroaminoto Palopo, 10(4), 4385–4403.

Diana, A. (2022). ONOMASTIKA DALAM CERITA RAKYAT DAERAH JAMBI BERJUDUL “SEBAKUL.” Pelitra, 5(1), 46–57.

Endrizal, E., Hendri, N., & Ahida, R. (2018). Identitas: Konstruksi Sosial Dan Kekuasaan. Islam Realitas: Journal of Islamic and Social Studies, 4(1), 1–10.

Halimatus’ diah, V., Ledhianti, W., & Kusno, K. (2025). Eksplorasi Alat Musik Saron Dalam Gamelan Banyumas: Sebuah Kajian Etnomatematika. Proximal: Jurnal Penelitian Matematika Dan Pendidikan Matematika, 8(3), 802–809.

Handayani, W. R. (2025). Linguistic Anthropological Analysis of Toponymy of the Names of Tukung Island and Babi Island in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. CaLLs (Journal of Culture, Arts, Literature, and Linguistics), 11(1), 53–72.

Hariyanto, M. A. B., & Yusuf, K. (2024). Nama Toko Berbahasa Arab di Tokopedia: Bentuk dan Fungsi (Kajian Onomastika). Prosiding Konferensi Nasional Mahasiswa Bahasa Dan Sastra Arab, 1(1), 1–14.

Khrisnantara, I. G. Y. A. (2024). Kedonganan: Sejarah, tradisi dan toponiminya dalam perspektif linguistik. Nilacakra.

Kristi, T., & Hendrokumoro, H. (2023). Onomatope dalam Istilah-istilah Gamelan Jawa. Arnawa, 1(1), 41–54.

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Sage publications.

Moleong, L. J. (2018). METODOLOGI PENELITIAN KUALITATIF. PT. Remaja Rosdakarya.

Reni, O. H., Verolyna, D., & Syaputri Kurnia, I. (2024). Makna Ritual Tari Kejei dalam Budaya Rejang Ditinjau dari Analisis Semiotik. Institut Agama Islam Negeri Curup.

Sudaryanto. (2015). Metode dan Aneka Teknik Analisis Bahasa. Sanata Dharma University Press.

Sugiyono. (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R & D (2nd ed.). Alfabeta.

Suhartatik. (2023). SOSIO-ONOMASTIKA (KONSEP PENAMAAN DALAM KAJIAN SOSIAL BUDAYA). PT Literasi Nusantara Abadi Grup.

Wijayanto, W., & Fidyastuti, F. (2025). Estetika dalam Kosmis sebagai Pembelajaran dan Konservasi Gamelan di Era Modern. Jurnal Mebang: Kajian Budaya Musik Dan Pendidikan Musik, 5(1), 11–22.